The Football Fish

Illustration by Seiji Matsumoto

“The Football Fish is cute and interesting. It has a very unique way of attracting prey. It eats small fish that have gathered by shining a lure that comes out of its head. The silhouette of a lumpy animal emitting light at the end of something sticking out of the top of its head is so cool, that once I saw it, I could never forget it!“

@seijimatsumoto_arts

The Footballfish is a type of deep-sea Anglerfish. This species lives its life in the complete absence of sunlight. They have a lure that they use to attract prey filled with bacteria that makes its own light. Anglerfish can either hide or reveal its lighted lure. The lure is also used to attract a mate. Females are the large, ambush predators; females have the lighted lures. Males are very small and are not predatory.

Text sourced from Oceana, an Ocean Friend organisation dedicated to preserving and restoring the world's oceans.

Read more about the Football Fish